Miami Dolphins

October 10, 1985|By Steve Doyle of the Sentinel staff

THIS WEEK: The Dolphins have an extra day of rest this week, because they play the New York Jets Monday night at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets (4-1) are riding a four-game winning streak -- as are the Dolphins -- and are tied with the Dolphins atop the AFC East. The game will be televised on ABC (WFTV-Ch. 9). Last year, the Dolphins beat the Jets twice (31-17 and 28-17) in their division-winning season. In those games, quarterback Dan Marino passed for 614 yards and six touchdowns.

WHAT'S HAPPENING: With Marino leading the way, Miami leads the NFL in total offense and is second in passing offense. The Jets, meanwhile, have allowed just just 77 points -- low in the AFC -- and are third in the conference in total defense and pass defense. . . . The Dolphins and the Jets are the second and third stingiest pass defenses, based on percentage of passes completed. . . . The Jets have 16 sacks, and the Dolphins have allowed just three, all by the Broncos. Interestingly, Mark Gastineau is not the Jets top sacker. Barry Bennett (4 1/2) is. The Jets, meanwhile, have given up 20 sacks. . . . Jets running back Freeman McNeil has 472 yards, tops in the AFC, and the club is ninth in total offense. . . . Jets quarterback Ken O'Brien is fifth in the league in passing, just ahead of Marino. . . Mickey Shuler, the tight end, is the Jets' top receiver (28), tied for fourth in the league. . . . Five games into his rookie season, kicker Fuad Reveiz already has more field goals (11) than Uwe von Schamann hit all last season. He is second in the league behind Chicago's Kevin Butler in scoring (48 points), and he is ahead of schedule to shatter the Dolphins' record for field goals in a season -- 28, set by Garo Yepremian in 1971. . . . Another standout Dolphins rookie is running back Ron Davenport, who leads all NFL rookie running backs, with 175 yards. No. 1 pick Lorenzo Hampton has 129, second among rookies. . . . Tony Paige has six touchdowns this season for the Jets.

COMING UP: The Dolphins and their newest acquisition, All-Pro linebacker Hugh Green, entertain Green's old team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, at the Orange Bowl. Game time is 4 p.m.